Purpose:

This project has two main objectives. One is to examine the effectiveness of Wage and Hour Division (WHD) compliance strategies. The study will leverage existing government data and/or other open source data in combination with WHD administrative data to understand WHD compliance strategies. The second objective is to develop design options for an impact evaluation of compliance assistance strategies informed by behavioral science. These design options will provide a framework and logic model for WHD's compliance assistance program, and will support WHD in using rapid evaluation to support continuous learning and improvement.

Research Questions:

  • What is the current evidence on effective approaches to delivering compliance assistance?
  • What key outcomes are associated with WHD compliance strategies?
  • Are there opportunities to implement and test behaviorally informed compliance assistance strategies?

Project Duration: 30 Months

Contract End Date: March 2020

Contractor: Mathematica Policy Research

For More Information: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov

 

The Department of Labor's (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.